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Newport voters to decide $5.27 million city budget, school spending and 14 local appropriations on March 3
Summary
Newport City will vote by Australian ballot March 3 on 16 articles including a $5,267,700.20 general fund budget, a $8,802,517 school district budget and a series of appropriations to local nonprofits and services; polls open 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
The City of Newport held a public informational session March 3 to review 16 articles that voters will decide by Australian ballot on March 3, 2025. Polls at the Newport City Municipal Building will open at 8:00 a.m. and close at 7:00 p.m.
Reader Rick Hopkins presented the headline items: Article 3 asks voters to approve a $5,267,700.20 general fund budget and to authorize the city to assess taxes sufficient to pay it. Article 4 asks the Newport City School District to expend $8,802,517 for the coming fiscal year, an estimated $14,757 per pupil (described in the reading as a 0.36% increase over the current year). Article 5 would transfer $310,000 of unallocated audited general fund balance to the school construction and building maintenance fund.
The session also listed appropriation articles for local organizations and services: Article 6, $49,847 for recycling support; Article 7, $110,000 for the Goodrich Memorial Library; Article 8, $17,500 for Orleans/Essex BNA and hospital services; Article 9, $11,000 for Rural Community Transportation (RCT); Article 10, $7,000 for the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging; Article 11, $4,818 for Northeast Kingdom Human Services Inc.; Article 12, $8,500 for Umbrella Inc.; Article 13, $3,000 for Northeast Kingdom Learning Services Inc.; Article 14, $2,000 for the Pope Memorial Frontier Bridal Shelter; Article 15, $4,000 for the Orleans County Historical Society; and Article 16, $2,000 for Connect Abilities (formerly OCCA). Article 1 covers the election of municipal officers; Article 2 would set mayor and council compensation ($2,250 for mayor, $2,000 for council president, $1,750 for other council members). Article 17 reserves action on any other legally permitted business that may arise.
Council and staff emphasized that the articles will be decided on the Australian ballot and that printed copies of the budgets are available in the clerk’s office and online. The council adjourned the public informational meeting and opened its regularly scheduled session to address procedural items and brief public comment.
Next steps: the articles will appear on the municipal ballot March 3; voters will determine approval or rejection of each appropriation and the proposed budgets.
